Saturday, October 29, 2016

Tiny Mobile House Made From Upcycled Materials Lets You Live Off-Grid and Mortgage-Free

Greemoxie, a Canadian lifestyle magazine exploring green living, has built their first tiny house, sparing nothing to create an inviting space out of small quarters. The cozy, 340-square-foot cabin-like structure was built with upcycled materials and renewable energy systems that allow it to be 100% off-grid. Wanting to build more than a fancy trailer, Greenmoxie enlisted designer David Shephard and builder Ian Fotheringham to unleash their creativity for an innovative, sustainable living space.

The exterior is clad in cedar siding treated with the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique that entails charring wood to preserve it. An electric drawbridge allows the house to be easily moved and unfolds into a deck, giving enough space for grilling or an evening drink outdoors. Inside, hardwood oak floors flow through the space, which also includes reclaimed barn wood ceilings and a pine interior. Integrated storage units under the staircase leads to the lofted bedroom and multifunctional furniture helps maximize storage. The tiny house is also wired with a 4-speaker integrated sound system. The bathroom contains a full-size standup shower, sink, and composting toilet. No messy hookups.

Large windows allow natural light to flow into the living area, creating a cheery interior that contains a moveable table, built-in shelving, and a kitchen with a 24-inch range and propane refrigerator/freezer. All this is powered by solar panels on the roof with 11kW of stored energy capacity, while water is collected using a 200-liter rain barrel. The water is conserved and used via a combination of tools including a water recovery system, home drinking purifier, and grey-water holding tank. The space has been spray-foam insulated and in the winter can be heated using a propane heater and wood burning stove.

Greenmoxie is custom building the two-person tiny house for clients in the Ontario, Canada area with prices starting around $65,000 USD. Here's hoping they bring this mortgage-free, off-grid lodge to a wider audience shortly.